North Somerset Direct Local magazine December 2020

December 2020

North Somerset Edition

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BUSINESS NEWS

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LOCAL NEWS 1

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This month..

Mikes letter

10. Spiced red Wine Brownies

Welcome to the final edition of 2020!!

6. December oroscopes

13. Charity Christmas Tree Collection 14. Ultra Possessed Food Good or bad 16. Generation Rent 19. Your garden 22. Puzzles

The team EDITOR Michael Davies WEB DESIGNER Matthew Clarke ACCOUNTS Lisa Davies PROOF READER Elisabeth Davies Advertising sales Tel: 0117 3258029 Mobile: 07500 017236 Email: info@directlocalonline.com Distribution: Direct Local North Somerset edition is delivered to 20,000 people each month.

Why not subscribe free on our website to receive our bigger and better weekly virtual magazine and be in with a chance to win £100. Its full of local news events competitions and much more

What can I say normally we can’t wait for the Christmas celebrations to start for all of the right reason of course, booze, gifts and family gatherings.

But this year I think we all just want the year to end. As it’s a year from hell for some local businesses and families that have lost loved ones due to coronavirus or other life threatening illnesses.

As for which tiers we will all be put in on the 2rd December it’s a gamble really as the R rate seems to be going down slowly in all the local regions we may only end up tier 1 or 2.

Let hope so as I do not think the hospitality sector can take may more blows. Especially if they have to close over the Christmas break.

On a happier note It looks like we will get some family gathering in over the festive season as the Government have given us 5 days to meet up with family.

So here we go then! I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year and I will see you on the other side.

Here’s to 2021...

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www.directlocalbristol.co.uk Facebook.com/directlocal Twitter.com/directlocalmag Issue 49 December 2020

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in Direct Local do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in Direct Local.

The content of Direct Local is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost. All adverts designed by Direct Local are the property of Direct Local please contact us if you wish to reprint them in other publications as a small release fee Is applied. Use of adverts designed by us will need written permission first.

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WHATS DOES DECEMBER HOLD FOR YOU? Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Something you have been putting aside needs to be dealt with. The sooner you do this the better things will be for you. Remember that in any situation you have a strong enough character that you will be able to deal with most things. If you have hold-ups and obstacles, check that you are not causing these yourself.

Keywords strength and endurance

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Meeting people is quite prominent this month, both in social and other groups and gatherings.

If something needs to be said or sorted now is a good time to do it. It may be a time to reflect and for decisions.

Keywords. Gatherings and decisions Aries Mar 21 - April 19 If you are involved in meetings at this time they may not run as smoothly as you would like If the situation feels difficult remember to keep calm. You may also feel time for spring cleaning, both on the physical, and emotional levels.

Keywords. Calm and clearing Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Looks like changes are on the way for you. It may be a new venture or career. You may be feeling a bit restless at the moment., May be time to reflect aon nd some of the things you would like to achieve.You may find people keep wanting to give you their problems, but do not let yourself get involved in gossip or conflict.

Keywords changes and reflection.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 You may be feeling that things are being held up for you, or that your vitality levels are low. Spring is just around the corner and soon your energy and yourself will be feeling back to normal. If there is something complicated in your life at the moment, you will soon be able to unravel it and and let it go.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, remember you can achieve more than you think.

Keywords. Letting go..

Cancer June 21 - July 22 Relationships are a high point this month, as well as possible. A small refresh in the home.

If something is a bit hard going at the moment, you will find that you will have the strength and endurance to go through this with relatively plain sailing.

Keywords opportunities and relationships Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 This month pay attention to your intuition especially in regarding to situations with other people.You may need to step back from something and try and see it from a different perspective In all situations this month try and keep calm and balanced.

Keywords. Intuition and balance

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Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22 You may be at a point where a knew interest hobby or some kind of study is on your mind.

This could lead to opportunities in many directions.Just remember anything you want to achieve may involve some kind of challenges.

Keywords challenges and opportunities.

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 Any obstacles that have been in your way look likely to be on their way out. You may have been feeling a bit stuck in your ways of late, this could well be about to change. It may be time to think of having a break, even if it’s just for a day or so.

Keywords change and relaxation Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 It may be that time of year to go through some paperwork and to change some things that you have been putting off. A good time now for clearing and getting rid of things you don’t need both physically and emotionally. Try to be aware of being sensitive to other’s needs.

Keywords: Clearing and sensitivity

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 This month is just the right time to start sorting other things out you have been putting off. You may feel I need to have a revamp in your home, this may also involve a clearing for yourself emotionally. Should be a chance to get rid of all those paperwork issues too.

Keywords clearing and cleansing Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 At this time any hold-ups you have had are going to be easing. It would be good to listen more than talk at this time.Then may be things will be of value to you. Sensitivity and flexibility is something for you to be aware of this month. keywords: Listen and sensitivity Want to find out more about what’s in store for you in December ?

Contact Marie to find out whats in store for you this month on: 07949 800354

I wish you all a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Disclaimer This zodiac is for entertainment purposes only please do not take the predictions seriously Marie take no responsibility for your actions

Contact Mike:

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Lockdown could force closure of some well know pubs and restaurants in Bristol

Mitchells & Butlers did previously announce that sales had dropped 35% since the start of the year to 19th September as the pandemic plunged the nation into lockdown and forced the closure of hospitality outlets.

Like-for-like sales also driopped by 6% in the Owner of Toby Carvery, Harvester, All Bar One first three weeks of September. and other major pub and restaurant companies A Mitchells & Butlers spokesman said online: are announcing plans to close up to 20 of its "As announced in September, M&B re-opened sites across the United Kigdom. the vast majority of its estate, approximately 95%, after the first lockdown ended.

Branches in Bristol such as Mitchells & Butlers, which also owns Browns, O'Neills and "The remaining sites have been under review Miller & Carter - is working with advisers at CBRE to offload or sell a number of leasehold on a case-by-case basis since, taking into account factors such as expected footfall and sites. Bristol also has two Harvester business layout. restaurants and one Toby Carvery, with a second restaurant in Almondsbury, South They said in a statement: “We have taken the Gloucestershire. difficult decision not to reopen some of these We did contact Mitchells & Butlers and asked sites and are working with leaseholders on if any of its Bristol restaurants will be affected next steps." but we are awaiting an answer.

Mitchells & Butlers has more than 1,700 sites in total across the United Kingdom so closing Mitchells & Butlers employ more than 40,000 some or the branched will result in huge job people, but has not revealed how many staff losses. are affected by the decision.

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Spiced Red Wine Brownies

You wouldn’t expect to see red wine in a chocolate brownie recipe but it really works — give it a go!

Ingredients

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/ Gas 4

100g 70% cocoa dark chocolate 150g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 200g Light brown soft sugar 2 Eggs, lightly beaten

Meanwhile, lightly grease a 20cm square baking tin with butter and line with greaseproof paper

100ml Red wine (we used Shiraz) 100g Co-op plain flour 50g Cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting ½ tsp mixed spice Zest of 1 small orange

Feeds 12

Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bowl, then set aside to cool for 5 mins

Stir the sugar, beaten egg, wine, flour, cocoa, mixed spice and orange zest into the cooled chocolate mixture. Beat thoroughly, then pour into the tin Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins, until just set

Ready 1 Hour

Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully in the tin before turning out

Each serving contains Energy 19% 1112kj 10 266kcall

Dust with extra cocoa powder, then cut into 12 squares to serve Fat Med 29% 15.6g

Saturates High 51% 9.4g

Sugar High 21% 18.8g

Salt Low 4% 0.15g

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Ultra-processed foods are they good for you?

Some ultra-processed foods that may be beneficial to health:

Wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added Heavily processed convenience foods are sugar “are fortified with vitamins and minerals things we love to hate and hate to love. But such as B vitamins, calcium and iron, helping are some ultra-processed foods actually good you reach your recommended daily intake, and for us? are a source of fibre, which can contribute to More than 50 percent of our energy intake in cardiovascular health, normal bowel function, gut health and regulation of blood glucose the UK comes from ultra-processed foods, levels. according to a study reported in the British Medical Journal. These foods include industrially produced cereals, sauces, baked goods and ready-meals. They can be packed with hidden sugars, salt and fat. Eating them regularly is associated with obesity and even ‘early death’. But are ultra-processed foods ever healthy?

What are ultra-processed foods?

Most foods are processed in some way, for example to enable preservation”, says Huntriss, “but the term ‘ultra-processed’ refers to foods that often have a long ingredients list, with [some] you wouldn’t be familiar with.

Food-based ingredients are often combined with sweeteners, colourings, stabilisers and preservatives and go through multiple processes to formulate the end-products.

Examples include ice cream, fizzy drinks, hot dogs and some oven chips.

Foods like these, along with crisps, biscuits and cakes, aren’t what anyone would class as healthy, but other ultra-processed foods can be harder to judge. You might wonder if a jar of pesto, a tin of soup, or a veggie lasagne ready-meal, for instance, are healthy. Let’s take a look.

Ultra-processed foods with benefits As with other types of food, everything in moderation is key. Inclusion of some of these foods as part of an otherwise healthy and balanced diet is acceptable. We live in a fast-paced world, and as much as an entirely whole-food, unprocessed diet would be great, it simply is not realistic for the majority of people

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Tinned baked beans – Made with white beans such as haricot or cannellini beans, these are high in vegetable protein and fibre, and low in fat, and count towards your five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. They also contain minerals such as iron, zinc and B vitamins.

They contain some added salt, but versions with no added sugar are available.”

Pre-packaged wholegrain sliced bread – “Wholegrains are packed with nutrients, including fibre, protein, B vitamins, antioxidants, calcium and iron. A diet rich in wholegrains has been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic health conditions, and helps us reach our target of 30g of fibre a day.

Unsweetened soy or plant-based drinks can be ultra-processed. If choosing versions fortified with vitamins and minerals, these drinks may provide a similar amount of calcium to cow’s milk, promoting bone health.

Fortified plant-based drinks can also contain B vitamins, iodine and Vitamin D. What should you look for on the label?

Some ultra processed foods are energy-dense, high in added sugar, salt and saturated fats, contain little dietary fibre and have lost nutritional value through the multiple processes they have experienced

A diet high in ultra-processed foods is not recommended, Research has demonstrated a direct association between intake of ultra-processed foods and prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Is everything else ‘junk’ food?

So, apart from those four foods, is everything else off the cards entirely? Not exactly.

“Eating ultra-processed foods on occasion is not likely to cause any risk to health”, says Huntriss. “Cakes, biscuits and crisps are foods that many people enjoy as part of their diet. Having a healthy diet is all about balance.”

Making ultra-processed foods an occasional stop-gap rather than an everyday part of your diet is an easy rule of thumb.

Although high-fat, high-sugar foods should not be consumed frequently, they can still be included, albeit less frequently, as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.”

That said, Huntriss would like to see “less intensive marketing in supermarkets of ‘unhealthy’ high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt foods”, with more whole foods centre stage.

“The marketing, convenience and low cost of these foods allows them to often take the place of more nutritious options and home cooking, leading to detrimental effects on our health.”

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GENERATION RENT TO BECOME GENERATION BUY

Most of us at some point had (or have) ambitions of owning are own home. It’s common knowledge that today first time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to get onto the property ladder.

This is arguably caused by several reasons, but most significantly due to the increasing gap between the average salary compared to the average house price. According to ‘ ThisIsMoney.co.uk’ over the space of a decade the average house price went up by £100,000 whereas the average salary only went up by £6,400. Taking into consideration that lenders will calculate your borrowing by around 4.5 x annual salary, this leaves a borrowing short fall of £71,200.

With this in mind, Boris Johnson’s announcement last month has caused a combination of excitement and speculation around what help first time buyers are to expect in the future. Boris stated he wants to turn generation rent into generation buy. He has given us little more than this slogan to go on however, what we do know is that the existing ‘Help to Buy’ (HTB) scheme is due to come to an end.

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There are some significant changes between now and March 2021 to bare in mind if you or someone you know is looking to utilise the scheme before it ends.

From March 2021 the HTB Scheme will only be available to first time buyers, this means those interested in HTB and are not first-time buyers will need to have their ‘Property Information Form’ submitted by the 15th December 2020.

A new scheme will be available from April 2021 Those looking to use the new scheme must complete a new HTB application form to be eligible for the new HTB scheme the purchase price must be under £349,000 (for the South West of England).

Sian Turrell Managing Director, Mortgage Mind

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Your Garden In December Most gardeners tend to think that everything the garden is dormant in December. While this does tend to be the case there are still crops, plants and wildlife to protect from any winter frosts. The lawn will need to be kept clear of any remaining leaves and patio containers will need raising to avoid them sitting in the wet. The beginning of the month, however, will probably be dedicated to decorating the Christmas tree.

For many people this is an essential part of their festive traditions and there’s nothing quite like a real Christmas tree to decorate a room and fill the home with that nostalgic seasonal aroma...

Choosing a Christmas tree

There are several types of Christmas tree to choose from and if you’ve never had one before it can be hard to decide which will be best.

Nordmann Fir - this is the top choice for real indoor Christmas trees and has excellent needle retention.

The lush, glossy, rich green needles are soft and dense making it easy to decorate and the strong branches will support your lights and decorations to create a stunning display. They quite often have a wide base, making a perfect place to hide presents!

Norway Spruce - the ‘traditional’ Christmas tree.

Strong branches make for easy decorating, although the needles can tend to be fairly sharp. If you are choosing this tree it is best kept outside for as long as possible before bringing it into a cool room to help with needle retention.

Looking good this month.. Mahonia Why should you plant them?

Striking winter foliage, fragrant lily-of-the-valley aroma and beautiful yellow blooms - it’s not difficult to see why the Mahonia is such a well-respected addition to a winter garden.

How should you plant them?

Mahonia are very low maintenance shrubs but a small amount of attention will ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities - an annual prune is sufficient to keep them in check. By nature they are adapted to woodland conditions so plant in partial to full shade however they will grow well in a variety of soil conditions including clay, chalk and even sand.

Potted/pot Grown Trees

Most people buy cut Christmas trees, but it is possible to buy ‘potted’ or ‘pot grown’ trees. If you want to keep your tree after Christmas to pot on or plant in the garden always ask for a pot-grown tree. Potted Christmas trees have usually been grown in the ground and then dug up and potted with a few roots.

They generally won’t last much longer than a well cared for cut tree, and usually won’t establish in the garden afterwards. Pot grown trees have been grown in the pot and so many are more likely to be successful for growing on from year to year.

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